MERIDEN — Connecticut will join a fast-growing coalition of smoke-friendly states on Tuesday as the sale and purchase of recreational marijuana will be officially legalized for adults over 21.
The landmark reversal of longstanding policies prohibiting the distribution of cannabis comes almost two years after small scale marijuana possession became legal in the summer of 2021.
State statutes limit the sale of marijuana to a maximum of a quarter ounce per transaction and reserve the right to sell for licensed retailers. Developments this week still mark a monumental shift in laws for a state which dragged its feet on marijuana legalization compared to its northeastern peers.
All eyes will be on the area as Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz is set to ring in the state’s first legal sales of cannabis at Zen Leaf Meriden on East Main Street on Tuesday. Bysiewicz will be accompanied by Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Michelle Seagull.
Zen Leaf, formerly Willow Brook Wellness, will join eight fellow hybrid dispensaries in rolling out marijuana sales this week and is expected to be a hotbed of activity on its ribbon cutting day, prompting city leadership to schedule meetings with store managers in anticipation of elevated traffic levels.
“Because of where [Zen Leaf] is, we may not have much congestion through the city, but that area will be busy and we should be prepared for it,” Mayor Kevin Scarpati said.
